For Ward Leaders

The Role of Ward Leadership

Responsibilities of the Stake Leadership

The Geographic Stake President may assign one of his counselors and a High Councilor to support single adults. He may also assign a counselor and a high councilor to support young single adults. He may also ask the Geographic Stake Relief Society President to assign a presidency member to support single adults and young single adults. The same leaders could be assigned to both groups.

The Geographic Stake Presidency pays particular attention to young single adults—as they do all members of the rising generation.

Only the Bishop and the Stake President in units for single members need to be called from a geographic ward. As directed by the Spirit, many other callings can be filled by those in the unit by single members. Leaders of geographic stakes should be supportive when members are considered to serve in units for single members. However, leaders counsel together to understand members’ circumstances. We encourage all leaders to review the General Handbook of Instructions, Section 14 - Single Members.

Responsibilities of the Ward Leadership

The Geographic Unit Bishopric is key to engaging young single members in the work of salvation and exaltation. They work with the Ward Council to identify meaningful callings and assignments for young single members.

Generally, the Bishopric supports young single adult members as they support all members of the Elders Quorum and Relief Society. However, because of their foremost responsibility to the rising generation, the Bishopric also does the following:

A member of the Geographic Unit Bishopric meets with each young single adult at least once a year.
The Bishopric receives regular updates on the well-being of young single adults. The Geographic Unit Elders Quorum President and Relief Society President discuss the needs of young single adults in a Ward Council meeting. The leaders of the Young Single Adult Committee may be invited to attend. YSA Advisors called at the Geographic Stake and Ward level participate in the Young Single Adult Committee. We encourage all leaders to review the General Handbook of Instructions, Section 14 - Single Members.

Purpose of the Young Single Adult Stake

The Young Single Adult Stake provides a unique opportunity for individuals in similar circumstances to meet together in a YSA geographical unit. (See Handbook 14.3). These YSA Wards and Stakes provide a positive influence and effect on the personal progress and spiritual development of Young Single Adults. This includes their ability to participate in all aspects of the work of salvation and exaltation.

Eligible YSA members may choose to be members of the young single adult ward where available. Or they can choose to be members of their geographic ward. When transitioning between wards, the member and his or her leaders communicate with the leaders of the geographic ward. Leaders of the new ward assign ministering brothers and sisters. They plan for a calling or assignment that helps the member feel welcome and engaged in the work of the ward.

Young Single Adult Stakes and Wards provide a focused effort allowing YSA Stake and Ward Leaders to concentrate exclusively on the needs of Young Single Adults. Members must be young single adults (ages 18–30) who live within the boundaries of the young single adult ward or branch. All active and less-active young single adults within the stake boundaries who are not living at home with their parents are members of the young single adult stake unless they choose to attend their geographic unit. Young single adults who live at home with their parents may choose to be members of the young single adult unit or their geographic unit. Each person’s membership record should reside in the unit that he or she is attending. Young single adult parents (ages 18–30) who have children at home remain in their geographic unit. The parents may attend the activities of the young single adult unit.

The YSA Initiative and Ministering Tools represent a unique opportunity for both Geographic Wards and YSA Wards to combine their efforts in identifying, reaching, and ministering to these Young Single Adults.

This Initiative and Tools follow the Priesthood keys and Ecclesiastical responsibilities of Stake and Ward Leaders.

Responsibilities of the Young Single Adult Stake

The structure, organization, and integration of a Young Single Adult Stake and Ward provide a unique opportunity to focus ministering efforts on Young Single Adults. Essential to these ministering efforts is the identification of these YSAs, their interests, and their needs.

The YSA information system (YSA Ministering Tools) is administered by and directed through Priesthood Key Holders within the YSA Stake and provides both Geographic Ward and YSA Ward leaders with tools to assist in these ministering efforts. The Mesa Az YSA East Stake website provides communication tools to assist both members and leaders in sharing information regarding activities, Institute, and Self-Reliance offerings specifically targeting Young Single Adults.

The YSA ministering tools are designed to identify each young single adult’s areas of interest/need and can help leaders provide an association through events and activities.

YSA events and activities present an increased means for inviting non-member friends and building good relationships in and outside the Church.

Working together through the use of the YSA Ministering Tools, both Geographic Unit Wards and YSA Wards work together to ensure all Young Single Adults are accounted for and ministered to. This important effort involves the following steps:

Identify: Utilizing resources in both units to correctly identify the whereabouts and activity levels of Young Single Adults
Connections: Creating meaningful connections that are familiar to the Young Single Adult
Relationships: Utilizing these connections to develop or enhance existing relationships and create a sense of belonging for the Young Single Adult
Trust: Developing and maintaining trust with the Young Single Adult

The Geographic Unit Elders Quorum and Relief Society presidents may each assign a member of their presidencies to support young single adults. These presidency members learn of the strengths of young single adults and help meet their needs.

The Geographic Unit Elders Quorum President and Relief Society President may report on these efforts in a ward council meeting. If there is a Geographic Unit Ward Young Single Adult Committee, the leaders of this committee are invited to attend and report on their efforts.

These presidency members support the ward young single adult committee if one is organized (see General Handbook Section 14.1.2.4).

The Role of The YSA Adult Advisors

Under the direction of Elder Anderson, a North America Southwest Area Authority, Geographic Stakes in the North America Southwest Area are to call one or more Married Adult Couples to serve as YSA Adult Advisors for their Geographic Stake Unit.

These couples serve as an important interface and link between the Geographic Stake and our YSA East Stake. Each Geographic Stake may in turn call additional YSA Adult Advisors at the Geographic Ward level to supplement the efforts of the Geographic Stake YSA Adult Advisors. These YSA Adult Advisors participate as representatives from the Geographic Home Stake in our YSA Stake and Ward activities and may participate in YSA Ward Leadership Meetings by invitation.

For a more detailed understanding of the roles and responsibilities of these YSA Advisors, please visit our YSA Adult Advisors webpage.

For YSA Adult Advisors

Back to the Overview of the Ministering Initiative & Tools

The new YSA ministering tools that have been rolled out within our Stake are designed to identify each young single adult’s areas of interest/need and can help our stake leaders provide an association through enhanced events and activities. It is vitally important that each member of our stake complete the questionnaire!

The program of Ministering helps us make sure all Church members have a friend they can lean on in times of need. Ministering helps us follow Jesus’s example of how to love our neighbor as ourselves. We visit each other, pray for each other, serve each other, and comfort each other. Ministering is learning about and attending to others’ needs. It is doing the Lord’s work. When we minister, we are representing Jesus Christ and acting as His agents to watch over, lift, and strengthen those around us.

For a more detailed understanding and overview of the Ministering Initiative and tools, please visit our Ministering webpage.

Ministering Tools Overview

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